Sheet feeding attachment



Deon.v 2, 1952 s. PALEY 2,620,184

SHEET FEEDING'TTACHMENT Filed Deo. 16, 1949 3 sheets-sheet 1 OPERATION TUM-ING RECQRD Dec. 2, 1952 s, PALEY SHEET FEEDING ATTACHMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1949 IIIIII.

*K%W f ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 2, 1952 s. PALEY 2,620,184

SHEET FEEDING AT'IACi-IIVIEN'I Filed Dec. 16, 1949 3 Smeets-Sheer 5 IN V EN TOR.-

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ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET FEEDING ATTACHMENT Sam Paley, Davenport, Iowa Application December 16, 1949, Serial No. 133,239

3 Claims.

l This invention relates to a device for feeding sheet stock in overlapping. staggered relation and it relates more particularly to an attachment which may be used with a stencil duplicating machine for feeding sheet stock to secure single or multiple line pickup from a stencil carried on a printing coupling of the duplicating machine. The sheet stock is adapted to be fed to the printing coupling either singly in predetermined alignment by means of the feeding device to become imprinted with a desired portion of the stencil, or else a plurality of unsecured sheets is adapted to be fed simultaneously in overlapping, staggered relation to effect the desired pickup of printed matter without the necessity of blocking off any portion of the stencil.

It is an object of this invention to produce a device for feeding a plurality of sheets in overlapping staggered relation to sheet treating equipment.

Another object is to provide a device for simultaneously feeding a plurality of unsecured sheets in overlapping. staggered relation for predetermined line pickup from a printing coupling.

A further object is to produce a sheet feeding device for simultaneously advancing a plurality of unsecured sheets in overlapping, staggered relation with the leading edges in alignment for advancement in the desired relation to the printing coupling.

A still further object is to produce a sheet feeding attachment for stencil duplicating machines, whereby one or a plurality of sheets are advanced in a single motion for pickup of predetermined lines from the stencil.

Another object is to produce an attachment for a stencil duplicating machine that simultaneously feeds a plurality of unsecured sheets in overlapping, staggered relation to pick up predetermined lines of the stencil on exposed portions of the sheets and then feeding the sheets again through the printing coupling to pick up constant information in the desired position on each sheet.

These, and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a master sheet which is printed to embody all of the information on the stencil,

Figure 2 is another sheet having the essential information in the top portion and one or more lines taken from the stencil which`corresponds to two of the lines appearing in succession under the essential information of the record sheet in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the sheet feeding device embodying features of this invention,

Figure 4 is a side elevational view partially in section of the sheet feeding device shown in Figure 3, in association with the printing coupling of the rotary stencil duplicating machine,

Figure 5 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the top plate embodying features of this invention, and

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 'l--T of Figure 6.

The present invention is particularly applicable in connection with various business systems wherein it is desirable to produce a master sheet detailing various operations to be performed in sequence in the manufacture of a piece or tool whereby an pverall record is established. In such systems, it is desired to reproduce only portions of the successive operations on separate sheets, each of which is headed by the essential information usually appearing at the top of the master sheet, such that the overall record and the portional sheets will correspond exactly While the separate sheets will set forth the essential information necessary for specic departments. Systems such as these are used very often in tooling that requires a plurality of operations such that the master sheets will detail all of the information and operations, While the separate sheets may be sent to various departments to show Where the part will come from, the operation to be performed by the department on the part and where the part is then to be delivered.

It will be manifest that a single stencil may be used time and time again in the scheduling of manufacture in accordance with ordering of parts and their scheduling through the various departments. It will be further evident that a system of the type described may be used in other business techniques such as sales and the like.

Although the feed device embodying features of this invention may be used for advancing a single sheet in predetermined relation or a plurality of unsecured sheets in overlapping staggered relation to a wide variety of sheet processing equipment, it is particularly adapted for use with a stencil duplicating machine having a feed table I0 stationarily positioned in advance of a printing coupling, composed of a rotating stencil carrying,

cylinder II and a pressure roller I2 positioned therebeneath. The advanced sheet stock I3 is rst aligned by a rockable stop Ill and when the printing cylinder I I reaches a predetermined position, the sheet stock is gripped between converging feed rollers I5 and I6 for positive advancement to the printing coupling.

Successive feeding of sheet stock to the printing couplingby automatic or by hand means does not present a particular problem, but efficient feeding of sheet stock in desired relation to effect single or multiple line pickup from a stencil presents a more dimcult problem. Some systems designed to effect the latter relationship make' use of a pre-assembly wherein a plurality of sheets are adhesively secured one to another forfeeding simultaneously in overlappingstaggered relation to the printing coupling, but this arrangement is objectionable because of variations demanded in the spaced relation between staggered sheets to correspond to the aligned'. spacing in tliestencil; Such variations can' not'be made by. a` universal assembly, and as a result,.such systems re'- quire large inventories of various assembliestto` be kept.- This arrangement does notk readily provide for subsequent duplication of essentialy information on each of the sheets in the area' blocked:

oifv by succeeding sheets. For reasons of economy, it is necessary to assemble the sheet stock4 witha predetermined number of sheets, some of which"l must be torn off and discarded in the event that the number of pickups are less than the number of sheets provided, or the assembly willv otherwise be unsuitable for the purpose? for.' which it was intended, if the' number of pickups exceed: the

they time consumed insuch operation make manual systems impractical.

To cope with this problem, this invention'y provides a semi-automatic device for feeding a plu.- rality of sheets simultaneously in overlapping, staggered relation with the leading edges ofthe sheets in substantial alignment for engagement with the stop in cooperation with the feeding rolls. The device comprises a top plate shiftable upon the feed table toward the printing coupling between sheet mounting and sheet feeding positions of adjustment. The top plate has a plurality of stops spaced transversely by a distance corresponding to the desired staggered relation of the overlapping sheets, upon positioning the sheets against the stops. In this position, they staggered sheets may be fed simultaneously tothe printing couplingby advancement of the top plate toward sheet feeding position.

The attachment is adapted to be mounted, when desired, on a conventional feed table of a stencil' duplicating machine. Pins 26 depending from a rectangular base plate 2| of metal or the like are inserted in openings 22T, for positioning the relatively rigid base plate on the feed table in a manner to prevent relative movement. The base plate has one or more longitudinal slots 23 therein, extending in the direction toward the printing coupling.

Pins 25 depending from a relatively rigid rectangular guide plate 24 operate within the slot or slots for permitting guided shifting movement of the guide plate 24 in the longitudinal direction relative to the base plate 2| between two positions of adjustment, hereinafter referred to as the sheet mounting and the sheet feeding positions of adjustment. In the event that two or more longitudinal slots are employed, it will be sufficient if a single pin 25S is operative in each slot and the slots 23 should be dimensioned to correspond to the extent of sliding movement of the guide plate. It is best, however, as shown in the drawings, to employ a cair'of longitudinally spaced pins 25 and 25a, in operative engagement with a single slot 23, in which event the length oi" the slot should correspond to the sum of the distance between the outer walls of the pins and the amount of relative movement between the twopositions of adjustment.

The upper face of the guide plate 24 is provided with a top plate 26 in the form of a, relatively thin strip of sheet metal and the like having longitudinally disposed stops 2'I transversely spaced inthe plate by an amount corresponding to-thedistance desired between the freeedges ofv the sheets or cards 28 when in their mounted overlapping, staggered relation. The stops 2-f'I are adapted to-project from the upper faceof thetop plate 26 by anl amount sufficient'to'provide a wall against which the sheetsv 28 are' positioned, but the stops should not project so far as to. prevent the sheets from lying iatly one-over the other in overlappingv relation. Projections of. from 11g to` 1A inch are'suicient.

As shown in the'drawing, the stops are preferably provided in the form of tabs struck upwardly from the top plate to forman upwardly inclined rear wall' portion 29 anda downwardly inclined flap portion 30 which terminates slightly above the face of the top plate 26 and extends in. a sidewise direction to permit sidewise insertion therebetween of the'sheets for mounting.

For proper alignment, the tabs may bev longitudinally spaced to provide pairs, witheachpair n differ from the line arrangement of the rst pair,

as shown in Figure 3. Greater transverse spacing between stops and additional rows of stops may be used to achieve desired results.

The top plate 26 may be xed to the guide plate 24, but it is preferred to adhesively secure the top plate to the guide plate, as by Scotch tape, pressure sensitive adhesive, or the like, to permit removal of the top plate such that it may be replaced with other plates having tab arrangements specific for other applications. Thus, the attachment described may be adapted for various arrangements of line pickup merely by substitution of one of a number of low cost and easily prepared top plates 26, which may be stocked for various uses.

As a part of the attachment, guide meansl the top plate 26 has an upwardly extending' flange 32 which is provided with an ear 33 pivotally mounted, as at 34, to a yoke 35 which straddles the flange 3i] and is fixed on the flange in the desired longitudinal position of adjustment by a set screw 36. A pair of guide elements 3'! and 38 are laterally shiftable on the arm 3| for adjustment to receive sheets therebetween for proper alignment with the desired area of the printing coupling.

One or more guide lines 3Q, extending transversely across the top plate 26 are calibrated for different sheet sizes, such that when the sheets `are aligned with the guide line 39, a predetermined amount of the sheet extends forwardly, free of the top plate in the direction of the printing coupling. This provides sufficient leading edge for engagement between the feeding rollers upon shifting movement of the top plate from the sheet mounting to the sheet feeding position.

In operation, one or more master sheets 28a for carrying all of the information on the stencil, is positioned for automatic feed to the printing coupling with the arm 3l rocked to operative position across the top plate 25, as shown in Figure 3, with the guide elements iii and Se spaced to correspond to the width of the sheets. Thereafter, the arm 3l is swung upwardly to position the automatic feed in inoperative position. For double line pickup, the cards or sheets 28h are inserted between the outer tabs starting with the lowermost tab of the assembly. The first card will extend beyond the next overlapping card by an amount to pick up only lines 6 and 'l of the stencil. The next card will pick up lines d and 5, the next card lines 2 and 3, and the top card, Y

which may be one line shorter than the others, will pick up line l and the constant information.

If desired, another set of the cards may be inserted in the inner tabs such that the first card will pick up only line l, the second card lines 5 and E, the third lines 3 and 4, and the top card lines l and 2, along with the constant information.

The cards which have been underneath and are not imprinted with the constant information, may be run through with the automatic feed, with the guide elements 3l and 36 adjusted to feed the cards to the corresponding portion of the stencil.

In the event that single line pickup only is desired, the cards may be inserted successively in the inner and outer tabs and then all but the top card .re-run with the automatic feed, as described above, to pick up the additional constant information. It will be evident that various arrangements and spacings may be secured by proper selections of stops or tabs and by suitable arrangement of stops or tabs in the top plate.

Positioning of the cards or sheets is effected when the guide plate and the top plate are in the rearward or mounting position of adjustment. Each card is inserted in its suitable tab and with the rearward edge along the calibrated line 39, designed to provide for sufficient overhang of the leading edge. After all of the cards have been inserted in the tabs to effect the mounted relation, the guide plate, with the top plate and the mounted cards, may be shifted forwardly as a unit to bring the leading edges against the stop i3 such that they may be gripped between rollers I4 and I5 for feeding into the printing coupling. It will be apparent that as the cards, in their mounted relation, are gripped by the rollers I4 and l5, the cards will be slid endwise as a unit from between the tabs and run through the printing coupling for line pickup as described. The arrangement of the tabs with the depending flap provides for easy insertion of the cards by sidewise movement and for uninhibited endwise withdrawal of the cards for printing. The downwardly inclined flap permits the cards to lie relatively low along the top plate such that the overlapping relation of one card over the other does not cause the cards to stand out from the base plate.

It will be evident that the replaceable attachment provides a simple and efficient means for accomplishing single or multiple line pickup by stencil duplication. It will be further evident that the system embodied in this invention entirely eliminates the possibility of error, since the printing matter appearing on each individual sheet or card must necessarily correspond with that on the master sheet because they are both made from the same stencil. It will be manifest that the system described may be readily adapted for various pickup arrangements and for feeding to sheet operating mechanism other than the sheet stencil duplicating machine described.

Numerous changes may be made in the details of construction and operation of this invention without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An attachment for feeding a plurality of unconnected sheets simultaneously in overlapping staggered relation to a printing coupling of a stencil duplicating machine having a feed table comprising a guide plate detachably positioned on the feed table and having a longitudinal groove extending in the direction of the printing coupling, a base plate having a depending guide pin operable in the groove to limit longitudinal sliding movement of the base plate forwardly and rearwardly towards the printing coupling relative to the guide plate between sheet mounting and sheet feeding positions of adjustment, a top plate secured to the upper wall of the base plate, and a plurality of tabs arranged on the upper wall of the top plate in transversely spaced apart relation for positioning the sheets therebetween in overlapping staggered relation.

2. An attachment for simultaneously feeding a plurality of unconnected sheets in crosswise staggered and overlapping relation longitudinally to a printing coupling of a stencil duplicating machine having a feed table comprising a guide plate detachably positioned on the feed table and having longitudinal grooves extending in the direction of the printing coupling, a base plate having depending guide pins operable in said grooves to limit sliding movement of the base plate longitudinally in the direction of the printing coupling relative to the guide plate between sheet mounting and sheet feeding positions of adjustment, a top plate secured to the upper wall cf the base plate, and a plurality of tabs arranged on the upper wall of the top plate in tra. sversely spaced apart relation for positioning the sheets therebetween in overlapping staggered relation and an indicator in the top plate oning the overlapping sheets as they ted between respective tabs with the es of the sheets free of the top plate eed relation fer entrance together beeen the printing coupling as the base plate is eh sheet feeding position of adjustment.

3. An attachment as claimed in claim 2 including a longitudinally disposed rail on the transverse edge portion of the guide plate, an elongate plate swingably mounted on the rail for position in retractedeand voperauzvve position of adjustment :over the top plate, andtransversely adjustable -guides :'for vpositioning sheet rstaok therebetween -forzautomatic feed.

`SAM PALEY.

REFERENCES CITED "The following references are of record in the le of`this patent:

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